The Cypress Cyclones didn't go down without a fight in their final two games of the season over the weekend. The team faced off against the West Central Rage in Kerrobert on Friday, but was defeated 6-5 in overtime. A second game between the two teams in Maple Creek on Saturday gave the Rage another win, with a final score of 3-2.
"It was kind of our playoff and their playoff, because we were fighting for the position and they ended up beating us by one point," explained head coach Al Fournier.
The Cyclones were five points away from making playoffs and ended their season with 21 points, while the Rage snagged 22 with their final win on Saturday.
Friday's game began with Tanner Doig scoring from Dallas McIntosh two minutes into the first period. The Rage brought in a goal later in the period.
One minute into the second period, Craig Fournier knocked in a goal from McIntosh and Rylan McKinnon. The Rage earned a goal, but McKinnon slipped one in for the Cyclones from McIntosh and Fournier to end the period 3-2.
The Cyclones kept their lead with a goal by Lane Sanderson from Shaun Dale 25 seconds into the final period. The Rage quickly caught up with three goals, but one last shot by Dale from Sanderson with under two minutes left on the clock took the game into overtime.
The Rage brought in a goal in under four minutes of overtime to end the game 6-5 in their favour.
The game on Saturday began with the presentation of league awards to two Cyclones players.
Fournier received the Graham Christie Memorial Rookie of the Year Award, while McKinnon was honoured with the Southern Division All-Star Defenseman Award.
As the game got under way, the Rage knocked in their first goal late in the first period, but Tanner Walters chipped in a goal from Keegan Ham and Dylan Jackle in the second period to bring the score to 1-1.
After a goal for the Rage halfway through the final period, Sanderson slipped in a goal from Baydin Pastuck and Dale. But a final shot by the Rage gave them a 3-2 win.
"Those were heartbreakers," said Fournier of the two losses. "We had the chance to win in both games, we just couldn't finish."
He noted the team's elimination from making playoffs the week before had an effect on players' performances.
"We just got knocked out of the playoffs and you lose a bit of an edge," he stated. "(The Rage) missed out too, but at the same time they were fighting for the same thing we were."
Despite the losses, Fournier was happy with the team's effort. In the end, he said it was a case of the Rage having more strength in players.
"There's skill involved, but it's the strength, and you can see it – late in games you can see the older, stronger teams win the battles. That's the key to getting a late goal," he explained. "But all in all, it was a good effort and made it exciting for the fans again."